Potomac Speedway report 2002-06-29

Feathers dominates 100-lap Vernon Harris Memorial at Potomac Speedway.

Budds Creek, Md., -- After two nights of exciting racing action, with qualifying on Friday and the features on Saturday, Bo Feathers of Winchester, Va., came out the big winner as he dominated the 100-lap Vernon Harris Memorial Budweiser Super Late Model feature. Feathers took home the $5000 purse, plus the lap sponsorship money donated by various individuals and businesses, in the Verizon sponsored I.T.S.I. event.

"Vernon Harris was a great guy. We got to race against him here and down at Saluda," said Feathers.

Feathers proved to be one of the top contenders in Friday night's qualifying events. He set the second fastest time with a lap of 16.94 seconds. Darryl Hills had the fastest qualifying lap of 16.52 seconds. He went on to finish second to Allen Brannon in the six-lap Dash for Cash and position to put him on the outside pole. He then went on to lead the event from start to finish for his third win of the year.

Tommy Wagner Jr. got the M.A.R.F. Hard Charger of the race award as he came from a 22nd place starting position to move up 14 positions to 8th place.

Jamie Lathroum of Mechanicsville, Md., dominated the Bell Motor Company Limited Late Models all weekend as he set the fastest lap of 17.61 seconds over Jimmy Johnson's time of 17.64 seconds. Lathroum went on to win the Dash for Position to put him on the pole. He led the 25-lap feature from start-to-finish to get his fifth win of the year.

Ronald Cusic of Mechanicsville, Md., set the fastest time for the Coors Light Street Stocks with a time of 19.43 seconds verses second fastest qualifier Deuce Wright's lap of 19.90 seconds. Cusic then went on to finish second to Stevie Long in the Dash for Position to put him on the outside pole. He went on to take the checkered flag to reach a milestone in his racing career, getting his 50th win the street stock division. It was Cusic's third win this year.

In the Potomac Speedway Four-Cylinders, Scotty Nelson of Mechanicsville, Md., set the fastest lap with a time of 20.94 seconds over Calvin Wright's 20.98 lap. Nelson went on to win the Dash for Position to put him on the pole. He went on to swap the lead with Calvin Wright in the feature but then retook the position to visit victory lane for the third time this year.

The Arby's Hobby Stocks and Chesapeake Web Design Bombers did not run time trials but had feature events on Friday night and Saturday night. Ben Bowie of Port Tobacco, Md., won the Friday night feature while John Sellner of Huntingtown, Md. picked up the win in Saturday's feature after Ray Weaver was disqualified for illegal heads.

Kyle Nelson of Mechanicsville, Md., picked up the win in Friday's bomber feature. Nelson was disqualified for illegal pistons in Saturday's feature giving the win to Thomas Pickerey of Bryans Road, Md.

The Darryl Hills Super Late Model race team and his main sponsor Larry Hills and Sons Excavating sponsored the children's prize giveaway. Six-year-old Justice Busick of Edgewater, Md., went home with a new bike.

In the 100-lap Vernon Harris Memorial Budweiser Super Late Model I.T.S.I. event, the field of 23 cars got off to a slow start as Dave Bryant's car stalled on the initial green to bring out the first of 15 cautions before the first lap was completed. The field then lined back up for a complete restart, Feathers immediately took the lead as the green flag waved.

Feathers led the first 50 laps unchallenged for the lead. He enjoyed a straight-a-way lead when the race was red flagged for the planned fuel stop. When the field went back to green flag racing, Feathers immediately pulled away from the rest of the field. He was able to open up an even bigger lead as a second and third place runners Allen Brannon and James Adkins Jr., were caught behind some slower cars.

A caution came out on lap 60 for Scott Cross who spun in turn four. On the restart, Feathers again led the way as Adkins challenged for second. Brannon was able to hold him off.

The race then went another 15 laps under green when a series of cautions occurred. On lap 87, a caution came out for Jonathan DeHaven. On the restart, Feathers led the way as Adkins dove to the inside of Brannon in turns three and four. The two crossed the start-finish line side-by-side with Adkins making the pass in turns one and two.

A caution came out on lap 91 for Louie Littlepage to put Adkins right behind Feathers. When the green flag waved, Feathers pulled ahead. Adkins was unable to make a bid for the lead as Feathers went on to lead the rest of the feature to take the checkered flag. He finished with about a three-to-four car length advantage over Adkins. Brannon finished third, followed by Rick Jones in fourth, and Darryl Hills in fifth. Adkins and Brannon won the heats.

Jamie Lathroum and David Puckett battled for the lead at the drop of the green flag in the 25-lap Bell Motor Company Limited Late Model feature. The field had a complete restart as Ray Love Jr., and Walt Homberg got together in turn two to bring out the caution flag. On the restart, Lathroum led the way. By lap two, he had about a four-to-five car length advantage over Puckett.

Sommey Lacey was able to get around Puckett on lap seven and then set his sights on Lathroum. He began to reel Lathroum in. Lathroum got caught behind some slower cars on lap 12, allowing Lacey to pull up on his rear bumper.

On lap 15, Lathroum took the higher groove as Lacey dove to the bottom in turn four. Lathroum got the edge as they exited turn four. Back-to-back cautions came out on lap 18. On the second restart, Lathroum led the way. Lacey made a bid for the lead on the inside as they exited turn four. They came across the start-finish line side-by-side with Lathroum leading the lap by inches. Lathroum then got the advantage in turns one and two.

Lacey tried to take the lead again on lap 20 but Lathroum held him off. Lathroum went on to lead the last five laps unchallenged for the lead to take the checkered flag. Lacey finished second followed by Paul Cursey in third, Chet Gagnon in fourth, and Ronnie Hollidge in fifth. Gagnon and Cursey won the heats.

In the 20-lap Coors Light Street Stock feature, Ronald Cusic took the early lead from the outside pole position. By lap eight, he had a straight-a-way advantage over the rest of the field. His lead was cut down when the first of six cautions came out on lap nine when Jack Osborne hit the wall on the front straight-a-way.

When the field went back to green flag racing, Cusic easily led the way. By lap 15, he had a six car length advantage over second place runner Stevie Long. On the next circuit around, a caution came out for Jimmy Jesmer who spun in turn two. On the restart, Deuce Wright tried to take second away from Long. The two made contact in turns one and two causing Long to spin. Wright was then forced to park his car for rough driving.

On the restart, Cusic again showed the way and then went on to take the checkered flag, leading all 20 laps unchallenged for the lead. Billy Tippett ended up second, followed by Chris Nelson in third, Quentin Mise in fourth, and Matt Valiquette in fifth. Jesmer and Craig Tankersley won the heats. Both Jesmer and Tankersley were later disqualified in the features for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Scotty Nelson led the way at the start of the 20-lap Potomac Speedway Four-Cylinder feature. Calvin Wright looked to the inside of Nelson in turn four but couldn't make a move.

On lap six, a caution came out for Scotty Scott who slowed on the backstretch. On the restart, Wright went to the inside of Nelson at the drop of the green flag. He was able to make the pass in turns one and two.

Calvin Wright led the next five laps. On lap 11, Nelson tried to retake the lead by going to the inside of Wright as they exited turn two. The two ran side-by-side down the backstretch and into turns three and four. Nelson led the lap by inches. He then got the advantage in turns one and two.

Wright came battling back in turns three and four, but was unable to retake the lead. On lap 16, Wright slowed with a flat tire as they exited turn two. As he tried to get in the pits, Jerry Dick made contact with Wright to bring out the caution.

On the restart, Nelson easily led the way. He went on to take the checkered flag unchallenged for the lead. Wayne Graves finished second followed by Billy Crouse in third, Calvin Wright in fourth, and Dick in fifth. Scott won the heat.

In Friday's Arby's Hobby Stock 20-lap feature, Chuck Williams took the early lead. His car drifted up the track in turn four opening the door for Jeff Helsel. Helsel went to the inside but was unable to make the pass for the lead. Helsel challenged for the lead as they exited turn two on lap two but again Williams held onto the position. The two battled side-by-side on laps three and four. On lap four, Williams got loose in turn two and hit Helsel. Helsel's car flipped over bringing out the red flag. Helsel was uninjured.

When they went back to green flag racing, John Sellner inherited the lead. On lap five, Ray Weaver challenged Sellner for the lead in turn two. The two ran side-by-side down the backstretch. Sellner was able to hold onto the lead. On lap seven, Weaver challenged for the lead again. He was able to get the advantage in turns three and four to take over the top spot.

Ben Bowie was able to get around Sellner on lap eight and then set his sights on Weaver. Bowie made several attempts to pass Weaver but was unable to do so until lap 16. Bowie went to the inside of Weaver in turns three and four. The two made contact with Bowie getting the advantage to take over the lead. Bowie went on to lead the last four laps to take the checkered flag. Weaver finished second followed by John Burch in third, Jerry Lee in fourth, and Sellner in fifth. Burch won the heat.

In Saturday's 20-lap Arby's Hobby Stock feature, Ray Weaver led the way as the green flag waved. A caution came out on lap four when Mike Maginell was spun out by Rio Quattrochicci. On the restart, John Sellner passed Weaver for the lead in turn two.

Sellner led the next 10 laps. On lap 13, Weaver tried to retake the lead. He was able to make the pass on lap 14. Weaver went on to take the checkered flag, finishing with about a six car length advantage but was then disqualified during the post-race inspection. Sellner then got the win followed by Jerry Lee in second, Ben Bowie in third, and John Burch in fifth. Burch won the heat.

In the 15-lap Chesapeake Web Design Bomber Friday feature, David Cooper and Kyle Nelson battled side-by-side for the lead at the drop of the green flag. Cooper got the lead as they exited turn four. Nelson went to the inside of Cooper as they exited turn two on lap two and was able to take the position.

On lap three, Nelson's car went wide in turn two. Cooper went to the inside of him as the two made contact in turns three and four. Jimmy Suite was then able to get around Cooper for second.

Suite looked to the inside of Nelson on laps 11 and 12 but was unable to make a bid for the lead as Nelson went on to take the checkered flag. Suite finished second followed by Eric Hanson in third, Corey Hanson in fourth, and Jerry Oliver in fifth. Corey Hanson won the heat.

In Saturday's 20-lap bomber feature, Corey Hanson started on the pole and led the way as the green flag waved. Hanson led the first 14 laps unchallenged for the lead. On lap 15, a caution came out for Kyle Lear who lost a wheel in turns three and four. On the restart, Kyle Nelson tapped Hanson in turns one and two opening the door to make a bid for the lead. He made the pass for the lead on the backstretch. Hanson repassed him for the lead in turns three and four.

David Cooper joined in the battle as he passed Nelson for second on lap18. Cooper made a bid for the lead on lap 19 on the backstretch. The two ran side-by-side in turns three and four and then got together as they exited turn four. Nelson made it three-wide. As they entered turns one and two, Cooper and Hanson hit the wall together. Nelson went on to lead the rest of the feature to take the checkered flag but was disqualified during post-race inspection. Thomas Pickerey then got the win with William Crouse finishing second followed by Jimmy Suite in third, Corey Hanson in fourth, and Cooper in fifth. Hanson won the heat.

The racing action will take place on Wednesday, July 3rd this week verses Saturday July 6th. The sixth of seven Budweiser Super Late Model I.T.S.I. events will take place with a 40-lap, $2500 to win feature event planned along with the regular show except for the Chesapeake Web Design Bombers. Taking the bombers place will be a spectacular fireworks display sponsored by Arby's. Pit gates open at 5:30 p.m., with racing starting at 7 p.m. For more information, contact the track office at 301-884-4624. Or check us out on the web at www.potomacspeedway.com.

-ps-